Indiana Collaborates with Toyota Nonprofit on R&D
The Toyota Mobility Foundation (TMF), a Japan-based nonprofit focused on advancing mobility for all through next-generation mobility services, products and platforms around the world, designated Indiana as its first Future Mobility District in the U.S. The new initiative and local collaboration will foster innovation and propel research and development in advanced mobility technologies in Indiana.
“As Indiana’s pro-growth business climate continues to gain recognition around the world, we’re committed to embracing innovation and investing in emerging areas like advanced mobility in order to remain competitive and position our industries for long-term growth,” said Indiana Secretary of Commerce Jim Schellinger. “With the launch of the Indiana Future Mobility District, Indiana will be able to attract more diverse companies while leading in the development of mobility-enabled technologies. We’re grateful for our long-standing relationship with Toyota, which helped cultivate this exciting opportunity, and look forward to supporting TMF as it works to address some of the mobility challenges facing our communities.”
The Indiana Future Mobility District will launch with support from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) and Energy Systems Network (ESN), and TMF will allow providers of new advanced mobility innovations and services to deploy in the state, focusing on validating interoperability and integration with existing Indiana transportation systems. Through its efforts, and by leveraging ESN’s network of industry and academic stakeholders in the sector, TMF will collaborate with local stakeholders to increase opportunities for advanced mobility by fueling testing of mobility-enabled technologies. The organization is currently evaluating options in central Indiana for advanced mobility deployment and plans to provide details on project proposals as TMF establishes a presence in Indiana.
“We are excited to collaborate with two forward-thinking and committed organizations like ESN and the IEDC,” said Ryan Klem, director of programs at TMF. “ESN has a long history of supporting sustainable transportation projects in and around central Indiana with a focus on equity. Toyota as a company has a long-standing relationship with Indiana, and we as the Toyota Mobility Foundation are delighted to have the opportunity to work together with local communities to help bring the latest innovations in mobility solutions to serve Hoosiers.”
Founded in 2014, TMF is committed to supporting the development of a more mobile society in which everyone can move freely, utilizing Toyota’s expertise and technologies to support strong mobility systems while eliminating disparities in mobility. TMF works in collaboration with organizations across the global, including universities, governments, non-profits and research institutions.
“The pace of innovation in mobility is leading to rapid changes in the way people and goods move,” said Paul Mitchell, president and CEO of ESN. “This Future Mobility District initiative will prepare Indiana for these changes and help ensure that our economy and society benefit from them.”
Indiana is committed to embracing disruptive technology like advanced mobility to bolster its economic industries and position the state for long-term global competitiveness and economic growth. The IEDC will support the Indiana Future Mobility District through an existing partnership with ESN, which assists the state in targeting business recruitment in the energy and transportation sector.
